Digital Sovereignty Checklist
7 Steps to Digital Sovereignty
CHECKLIST
baramundi Checklists provide concise, step-by-step expert advice for handling common IT challenges in a straightforward way. You can find more checklists here.
Digital sovereignty is important both for protecting sensitive business data and ensuring business continuity. Maintaining proper safeguards depends not only on internal practices, but also on those of your organization’s technology, service, and cloud storage partners. Entrusting partners with data is necessary but can increase security risks.
We recommend the following steps to strengthen your digital sovereignty posture.
1. Consider open source alternatives
Free open source software can be a good alternative to reduce licensing costs and dependence on proprietary systems.
2. Look to EU software vendors
The EU has the world's strictest regulations regarding data protection, consumer protection, and due diligence. EU-based software vendors typically include robust features for data and infrastructure protection.
3. Use EU-based cloud storage and encrypt data
Using cloud services that comply with the EU’s strict data protection regulations can simplify and improve your data governance practices. You can also encrypt data stored in the cloud for an added layer of security.
4. On-premises vs. cloud storage
Keep sensitive data close to home by returning to on-premises storage. With the right tools and know-how, data access can be monitored continuously and controlled more reliably in-house.
5. Hold partners accountable
Require contractual assurances and transparency from your technology and service partners regarding security standards, data processing, transfers to and from third countries, and compliance documentation.
6. Have Plan B ready
Through technical errors, system faults, manmade or natural disasters, or other events, technology and service partners may not be able to ensure safe handling of your data. Have backup and business continuity plans prepared in case you need to change providers quickly.
7. Co-management and diversification
Avoid over-dependence on individual software solutions through diversification and co-management. This will reduce the risks of downtime if a solution fails and allow you to switch to another quickly in an emergency.
Investing in digital sovereignty and data governance protects your data, reduces costs, and ensures business continuity. baramundi helps you keep your IT data and infrastructure reliable, resilient, and secure, whether you manage an on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environment.
